Receptacle filling and draining device



. Iune 1934.

a. v. GAVAZ'A 1,963,522 RECEPTAbLE FILLING AND DRAINING DEVICE Filed'llarch 2, 1932 2 sheets-sum 1.

F7067: ha

ail-WW G. v. GAVAZA I RECEPIACLE FILLING AYD DRAINING DEVICE June 19,1934.

Filed March 2, '1952 2 Sheets-,Shegt 2 Patented June 19, 1934 RECEPTAGLEFILLING AND DRAI'NING DEVICE George V. Gavaza, Quincy, Mass. ApplicationMarch 2, 1932, Serial No. 596,305

9 Claims. (Cl. 137-411) The present invention relates to receptaclefilling devices, and more particularly to combined filling and drainingdevices such, for instance, as are used to fill and drain the tubs ofhouse-. hold washing machines.

It has been proposed heretofore to provide households with devices forfilling and draining the tubs of washing machines. These devices usuallycomprise a T having three outlets, two flexible conduits connected,respectively, to two of said outlets, and means connecting the thirdoutlet to a threaded cold water faucet of a sink, the means usuallycomprising an ordinary metal coupling, but sometimes a tapered tubewhich must be forced over the threaded faucet and which, because of itstaper, has a tendency to slip down. Each of these coupling types has itsdisadvantage, the latter for the reason stated, and the former becausethe threading renders it unfit for use on unthreaded faucets.

A further disadvantage of filling and draining devices now on the marketis that when one of the conduits is not needed, as when the faucet is ofthe single, or swing, combination type, the conduit must be doubled orfolded so that water can not pass through it. While this method effectsa stoppage of water, the doubling shortens thelifie of the tubing. 7

A 'further disadvantage of devices previously made is that in relyingupon unaided siphonic action, their draining speed is necessarily slow.This is caused by the fact that the end of the conduit out of which thetub water drains merely rests in the sink. Such a construction fails totake advantage of the increased draining speed attained by having theend of the sink conduit adapted to fit snugly into the sink drain hole.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention toproduce a combined filling and draining device provided with means whichwill fit both hot and cold water faucets, smooth or threaded, and ofvarying sizes.

A further object of the present invention is to produce. a combinedfilling and draining device in which water may be prevented from passingthrough an unneeded conduit without doubling the conduit to shut off theflow.

A further object of the present invention is to produce a combinedfilling anddraining device by which the drain hole of a sink may beeffectively sealed to aid the siphonic draining action. 1

To the accomplishment of these objects, and 'such othersas willhereinafter appear, the features of the presentinvention consist incertain devices, combinations and arrangements of parts fully set forthhereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims which possess advantagesreadily apparent to those skilled in theart. I

The various features of the present invention will be readily understoodfrom an inspection of the accompanying drawings illustrating the bestform of the invention at present known to the inventor, in which,

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing in full and construction linesthe device in use for filling or draining a receptacle when two faucetsare used;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation showing the device when used to flush thetrap and drains;

Fig. 3 is adetailed view in enlarged sectional elevation showing the Tprovided with three outlets, the coupling for connecting the T to athreaded faucet, the boss, one of the flexible conduits (partially cutaway) connected to one of the outlets, and the sink stopper;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation showing in full and construction lines theuse of the device as a filler from the single, swing, or combinationtype of faucet, and equipped with the modified coupling means forconnecting the T to the faucet;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective, partially in section, of the modifiedfaucet coupling means comprising a tube provided with a circinate roll;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective, partially in section, of the tube whenthe roll is evolved;

Fig. 7' is a detail view in sectional elevation of the tube andcircinate roll, and

Fig. 8 is a detail view in sectional elevation of the tube with the rollevolved.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the combined filling anddraining device comprises a T 9 (Fig. 3) having three outlets 10, 11,and 12. Adjacent the outlet 10 the T 9 is shouldered to receive one endof a long flexible conduit 13 (Fig. 4), the other end of which extendsinto the receptacle or tub 14 to be filled or drained. The conduit 13 isclamped to the T 9 by ametallic ferrule 15. Adjacent the outlet 11 the T9 is shouldered to receive one 'end of a short flexible conduit 16 theother end of which is inserted into a hollow stopper or nozzle 17 forthe sink drain hole. The conduit 16 is clamped to the T 9 .by a metallicferrule 18. A collar 19 is fitted over the portion of the T forming thewalls of the outlet 12, as shown in Fig. 3, and a rubber washer 20 isinterposed between the collar 19 and the T. The collar 19 is providedwith a flange 21 which abuts the flange 22 of an internally threadedfau- 1 faucet, either hot or cold, can not pass beyond the cet coupling23 of the usual type. When the collar 19 and coupling 23 have beenassembled, the flanges 21 and 22 are held in engagement by means of aring 24 fitting an annular groove 25 around the collar 19. The coupling23 is provided with the usual rubber washer 26 forming an abutment forthe mouth of the faucet.

The T 9 is also provided with a tapered boss 43 of such size as to forma plug for both the free end of the conduit 13 and the hollow stopper ornozzle 17. The boss 43, and also the outlets 10 and 11, are externallycorrugated to insure a firmer grip by the conduits or the stopper placedover them.

One of the features of the present invention is the construction of thestopper or nozzle 17. It is best made of rubber, and externally istapered as shown at 27, 28, and 29 to fit drain holes of varying sizes.It is of course possible to have the outer surface of the stopper onesmooth taper, but the construction shown is better because it insures aseal not only inside the drain hole by the tapered portion, but alsoover the drain hole by the shoulders necessarily formed between thetapered portions.

Internally the stopper 17 is provided with a tapered portion 30 and acylindrical portion 31. The free end of the short conduit 16 fits snuglyinto the cylindrical portion 31, and is secured therein by cement. Theend of the conduit 16 abuts a shoulder 32 formed in the stopper 1'? bymaking the diameter of the narrowest part of the tapered portion 30somewhat less than the external diameter of the conduit 16. However, aswill be explained in detail hereinafter, the best construction is tomake the diameter of the narrowest part of the tapered portion less thanthe internal diameter of the conduit, so that the shoulder 32 extendspartially over the orifice at the end of the conduit 16, to form anannular baflle 33. The portion 30 is tapered as shown in Fig. 3 to makethe walls of the stopper relatively thin. This construction greatlyincreases the resiliency of the walls so that little effort is requiredto insert the stopper into the drain hole.

The present invention may be used as a filler,

or as a combined filler and drainer, and, by means of the constructionshown and an alternative one presently to be described, may be used withmany difierent sizes of faucets and in sinks provided with two faucets,or with but one supplying both hot and cold water.

The use of the present invention for filling only is shown inFig. 1 (twofaucets) and Fig. 1 (one faucet). When there are two faucets, the coupling 23 is screwed to the cold water faucet 34 (Fig. 1), the hollowstopper 17 being placed over the hot water faucet 35 as shown inconstruction lines at A in Fig. 1. The tapering 30 of the stopper 17permits-a tight grip on the smooth faucet 35. It will be seen that waterof any desired temperature may be conducted into the receptacle 1% byregulating the amount of water discharged from the faucets 34 and 35. Itis also clear that only hot or only cold water may be conducted into thereceptacle 14, for water emitting from the open closed valve in theother faucet, but .must discharge into the receptacle.

Fig. l represents the use of the presentinven tion for filling whenthere is but one faucet, the swing or combination type, supplying bothhot and cold water. In such a case, water must be prevented from issuingout of the hollow stopper 17. As shown in Fig. 4 this' 'is accomplishedby placing the tapered portion of the stopper 17 over the conduit 16 soas to form the bafiie 33. When aeeasaa the boss 43, the corrugations onthe boss insuring an eflective plugging of the stopper. In this waywater, hot, cold, or tempered, may be conducted into the receptacle 14from. the single faucet. It is to be noticed that by this means ofshutting oh the flow of water through the conduit 16 the conduit is notdoubled but is merely curved as shown in Fig. 4. In this way the life ofthe conduit id is prolonged as doubling in such conduit material asrubber hastens the destruction of the useiul= ness of the tubing.

When it is desired to drain liquid from the receptacle 14, the shortconduit 16 and the stopper 17 are uncoupled from the hot water faucet 35or the boss 43, as the case may be, and the stopper 17 is plugged intothe drain hole 36 in the sink 37. This is illustrated by the full linedrawing of the conduit 16 and the stopper 1'? in Fig. l.

The cold water is turned on. Velocity is imparted to it by thedownwardly tapering re stricted passage 38 (Fig. 3) in the T 9. This restricted passage 38 converts the stream of cold water into a jet whichtends to travel in a straight path through the cylindrical restriction39 of the T 9 and down centrally through the T and com duit 16. It isclear that an annular space is left between the jet of water and theinternal walls of the T 9 and the conduit 16. Because of its ve-= locitythewater tends to draw air out of the outlet 19 and the long conduit 13,thereby creating a 1 5 condition of unbalanced pressure, so that the atmospheric air on the liquid in the receptacle l4 forces the liquidup'the tube 13 and so into the short conduit 16.

' Draining with the stopper 17 plugged into the no used, the velocity ofthe jet, besides-drawing air 139 out of the outlet 10 and the conduit13, will drive water through the trap, making the atmospheric pressureon the liquid in the receptacle 1% force the liquid faster up theconduit 13. This is a forced siphonic action which achieves quickerresults.

In the use of either of the above methods for draining, it is notnecessary that the diameter of the narrowest part of the tapered portion30 of the hollow stopper 17 be less than the internal diameter of theconduit 16. It has been pointed out, however, that preferably the diameter of the narrowest part of the tapered portion 30 should be less thanthe internal diameter of the device is so constructed, a third method ofdraining may be used.

By this method the stopper 17 is not inserted into the drain hole 36,but is merely rested in the sink as shown in construction lines at B inFig. 1. The cold Water is turned on momentarily to ini=- tiate thesiphonic draining of the tub.

It is clear, however, that with the stopper 17 unplugged into the drainhole 36, air is free to pass up the conduit 16 because the diameter ofthe jet is smaller than the internal diameter of the conduit 16. Toprevent this upward passage of air is the function of the baflie 33. Thebafile forms, as it were, a restriction in the conduit, which causes thewater to collect at the am J can freely drain from the receptacle 14through the-conduit 16, but no air can pass up through the conduit.Stated in another way, the jet of water, in passing the outlet 10 isable to create a condition of unbalanced pressure between the water inthe receptacle 14 and the open end of the stopper 17, to cause theexpulsion of the water from the receptacle 1'4 into the sink 3''! underthe influence of the atmospheric air acting upon the water in thereceptacle 14.

Because of the baffle 33, the siphon'ic action will start as soon as thestopper 17 is uncoupled from the hot water faucet 35 or the boss 43 andpositioned in the sink 3'7. Thus it is not necessary to pinch or bendthe conduit 16 in order to initiate the siphonic action.

An additional use of the present invention is shown in Fig. 2. If thefree end of the long conduit 13 be placed over the boss 43, and thestopper 17 be inserted into the drain hole 36, there will be an unbrokenconnection between the cold water faucet and the trap. If, now, thewater be turned on full force, it will exert enough pressure to drivewater through the trap 44 and the water pipes attached so as to cleanthem. In this way trap and drains may be cleared.

The present invention has been described above as being adapted to fitthreaded cold water faucets and smooth hot water faucets. All faucetsare not so constructed, however, and this is especially true in the caseof the single faucet, as shown in Fig. 4. This type frequently is notonly unthreaded but is also smaller than ordinary faucets. Accordingly,to adapt the present .invention to such faucets a modified couplingmeans is provided, illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8. This modifiedcoupling means comprisesa rubber tube 42 one end of which fits over amodification of the outlet 12. This modification (not shown) may bemadeby dispensing with the coupling 23 and collar 19, and by giving thewalls of the outlet 12 a shouldered construction identical with that ofthe outlets 10 and 11. The tube can be clamped to the modified outlet bymeans of a metal ferrule 40, as shown in Fig. 4, which figureillustrates the use of the present invention when provided with themodified coupling means .ways maintaining its rolled or unrolledcondition.

When rolled, the end of the tube presents the appearance shown in Fig.5. When unrolled, it presents the appearance shown in Fig. 6. ViewingFigs. 5 and '7, it isclear that the end, when rolled, fits smallfaucets, and viewing Figs. 6 and 8 it is clear that when the end isunrolled, it fits larger or threaded faucets. Thus the same tube, byreason of its circinate construction, is

adapted to be used on faucets of various types,

an attribute not found in the usual faucet coupling 23.

When the extruded but unvulcanized tube is rolled back over the pluginserted in one end,

the walls of the tube forming the roll are necessarily radiallystretched thereby making the walls thinner at the rolled portion. Curingthe tube when in this condition makes this stretching permanent. As a.consequence, when the end of the cured tube is unrolled, the diameter ofthe opening, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, is larger than the internaldiameter of the roll proper, adapting the tube to fit largerfaucets thanis possible when the end of the tube is rolled.

It will be apparent, as shown in Fig. '7, that the above method ofthinning the walls at the roll forms a seat for the roll along the wallsof the tube where the rolling begins.

The present invention is designed primarily for filling and drainingreceptacles. It has alternative uses, however, one of which has beendescribed with reference to flushing drains. Afurther use will be ofinterest to automobile owners. The conduit 16 may be removed from the T9 and an ordinary threaded female garden hose coupling inserted in theopen end. The conduit is then coupled to-a garden hose andthe stopper1'7 inserted into one of the openings in an auto mobile water coolingcirculating system. When the drain is open and the water is turned on itwill be forced through the cooling system under pressure, therebyremoving all scale and refuse.

What is claimed as new, is:

1.. In a combined filler and drainenthe combination with a T havingthree outlets, two fiexible conduits connected, respectively, to two ofsaid outlets, and means for connecting the third outlet to a faucet, ofmeans carried by the T for holding the shorter of said conduits in anundoubled condition and preventing the emission of water from saidconduit.

2. In a combined filler and drainer, the combination with a T havingthree outlets, two flexible conduits connected, respectively, to two ofsaid outlets, means for connecting the third outlet to a faucet, and anozzle secured to the free end of at least one of said conduits, ofmeans integral with the T for plugging the end of the nozzle to shut offthe flow of water therethrough.

3. A combined filler and. drainer having, in combination, a T providedwith three outlets, two flexible conduits connected, respectively, totwo of'said'outlets, means for connecting the third outlet to a faucet,a hollow sink drain hole stopper secured to the free end of at least oneof said conduits, and means carried by the T and cooperating with thestopper when the device is used for filling for holding thestopper-carrying ,conduit in an undoubled condition and for preventingthe emission of water from said conduit.

4. A combined filler and drainer having, in combination, a T providedwith three outlets, two flexible conduits connected, respectively, totwo of said outlets, means for connecting the third outlet to a faucet,a nozzle connected to the free end of one of said conduits and providedwith an internal passage comprising two portions, into one of which theconnected conduit fits, and the other portion having an inlet diameterless'than 'the external diameter-of said connected conduit to form ashoulder which the end of the said conduit abuts, and means carried bythe T and cooperating with the second named lat portion of the passagein the nozzle when the deflexible conduits connected, respectively, totwo of said outlets, means for connecting the third outlet to a faucet,a nozzle connected to the free end of one of said conduits and providedwith an internal passage comprising two portions, into one of which theconnected conduit fits, and the other portion having an inlet diameterless than the internal diameter of said connected conduit to form abaffie permitting the water to pass through the said conduit and out theopen end of the nozzle during the draining operation whilesimultaneously preventing air from passing into the conduit, and meanscarried by the T for plugging the second named portion of said passageto hold said connected conduit in an undoubled condition and to preventthe emission of water from said conduit when the device is used forfilling.

6. In a combined filler and drainer device, the combination with a Thaving three outlets, two flexible conduits connected, respectively, totwo of said outlets, and means for connecting the third outlet to afaucet, of a nozzle secured to the free end of one of said conduits bywhich said conduit may be connected to the spout of a faucet other thanthe faucet to which the third outlet of the T is connected, or beconnected to the drain pipe of a tub, or be rested on the bottom of thetub, according as water is to be supplied from both iaucets to a vessel,or drained therefrom directly into the drain pipe of the tub, or drainedmerely into the bottom of the tub, respectively, said nozzle beingprovided with means integral therewith and cooperating with itsassociated conduit for preventing the simultaneous flow of water and airin the conduit in opposite directions when the nozzle is rested on thebottom of the tub during the draining operation. '7. A filling anddraining device for vessels commesses prising: a conduit, one end ofwhich can be placed in position to drain the contents of a vessel; and acombined coupling member and plug on the other end of the conduit bywhich the latter can be connected to the spout of a. faucet or pluggedinto the drain pipe of a tub, according as water is to be supplied tothe vessel or drained therefrom.

8. A filling and draining device for vessels comprising a conduit oneend of which can be placed in position to drain the contents of avessel, a nozzle on the other end of the conduit by which the latter canbe connected to the spout of a faucet or connected to the drain pipe ofa tub, according as water is to be supplied to the vessel or drainedtherefrom, and a coupling member carried by the conduit between the endsthereof for connecting the conduit to the spout of a faucet other thanthe faucet to the spout of which the nozzle can be connected.

9. A combined filler and drainer device having, in combination, a Tprovided with three outlets, two flexible conduits connected,respectively, to two of said outlets, means for connecting the thirdoutlet to a faucet, a hollow stopper secured to the free end of at leastone of said conduits, said stopper being insertable in the drain hole ofa tub when the device is used for draining and being adapted to beconnected to the spout of a faucet other than the faucet to which thethird outlet of the T is connected when the device is used for fillingfrom both faucets, and means carried by the T and cooperating with thestopper, when the device is used for filling from only the faucet towhichthe third outlet of the T is connected, for holding thestopper-carrying conduit in an undoubled condition and for preventingthe emission of water from said conduit.

GEORGE V. GAVAZA.

